Hydrocarbon-burner.



PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904.

G. E. WHITNEY.

HYDROGARBON BURNER.

APPLIOATION FILED MB. 2o. 1899.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

No MODEL.

PATENTED DEG. 13, 1904.

G. E. WHITNEY.

HYDROGARBON BURNER,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1899.

UNTTEn STATES Patented December 13, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE E. WHITNEY, OF BOSTON, lVlASSAOI-IUSEIIS, ASSIGNOR TO WHFNEY MOTOR YWAGON COMPANY, OF K'IT'FERY, MAINE.

HrnnocnnsoN-susnen.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,578, dated December 13, 1904.

Application filed February ZO, 1899. Serial No. 706.253. (No model.)

To @ZZ when?. it 77mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. VVHI'TNEY, of Boston, county ot' Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in flA-lydr'ocarbon-Burners, of which the following' description, in connection with the accompan ying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing` like parts.

This invention has forits object the production of a novel hydrocarbon or liquid-fuel burner for steam-generators constructed and arranged to effect great economy of fuel with high eliiciency and capable of very complete regulation and adjustment.

One practical embodiment of lnyinvention will be hereinafter described in the following specification, various novel features being particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1, in elevation, represents a hydrocarbon-burner embodying one form of my invention, showing clearly the external parts of the burner, the lower portion of the boilershell being' shown as surmounting the burner, to be heated thereby. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the burner, taken on the line .7; Fig. l, the bottom of the combustionchamber being partially broken out to show more clearly some of the parts beneath. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line :l/ a, Fig. Q, showing' also in section the lower portion of the boiler illustrated in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View on the line fr rc2, Figs. 2 and 3, of the fuel-controlling devices shown in t'ront elevation in Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is also an enlarged sectional detail of a portion of the fuel-controlling devices, taken on the line fr, Fig. it.

in my present invention l have provided a novel and highlyetlicient form of burner particularly adapted for portable or other steam-generators, constructed in such manner that the consumption of the 'fuel is carried to substantial completion in the combustion-chamber, with the attendant results of very high etliciency, rapid and continuous generation of a great volume of heat, and the practical elimination of all disagreeable odor due to partially-consumed fuel.

The regulation of the burner is readily and effectively attained by means to be hereinafter described, the apparatus as a whole being capable of quick return to maximum or lower heating effect after the supply of fuel has been temporarily shut otl".

in the preferred embodiment of my invention the 'fuel-vapor is mixed with air before its entrance. to the burners proper or burner devices, an independent supply of air to support and effect complete combustion being delivered to the burners at or closely adjacent to the point at whichcombustion of the mixed air and is effected.

Referring to the drawings, the burner comprises an outer shell or side wall a, bent into circular `forni in the present instance, having a double bottom formed by continuous fiat top or upper and lower or bottom plates a. c, Fig. said Aplates and the side wall constituting a casing which formsa distributing-chamber D, 'from which the combustible gas, preferably a mixture of fuel-vapor and air, isdistributed to the burner-openings to be described. The space included between the side wall and topplate c of the casing constitutes a comlmstion-chamber O, which is closed at its top by the bottom or crown sheet bx of thelboiler B, (partly shown in Figs. 1 and 3,) having' upright tre-tubes-or lines b, opening at their lower ends into the combustion-chamber. An opening in the side wall of this chamber is closed by a door a, Figs. l and 2, conveniently located near the torch to be described, access to the latter and to the interior of the chamberO being' eli'ected by opening the door, a spring s being' herein shown as arranged to normally maintain the door closed.

Each burner device is herein shown as composed ot' two concentric metallic tubes 2 L, fitted tightly together at their lower ends, Fig. 3, interposed between and secured to the top and bottom plates of the casing by inserting the tubes tightly in registering holes in said plates and outwardly Hanging or turning over the ends of the outer tube upon the plates, as at 3 3. The inner or air tube 5 is reduced in external diameter at its upper part for about halt' its length to leave an annular space between it and the outer tube b3, said tubes 3 71" forming the inner and outer walls of the burner device, which thus presents a IOO slit-like andlpreferably continuous exit or burner-opening in the top plate and leading into the combustion-chamber. Opposite the annular space b4 and opening thereinto are inlet ports or holes b5 in the outer wall or tube b3, thereby effecting communication between the burner-openings and the distributingchamber D, inasmuch as said inlets b5 are below the top plate (d, which forms the bottom of the combustion-chamber. A large number of the burners or burner-openings are provided, varying in number and size according to circumstances, the burner-openings in the bottom of the combustion-chamberpresenting a number of ring-like or annular slits or exitorifices 5, Fig. 2. The flanged ends of the tubes b3 prevent separation of the plates a ft2 due to the warping or bending tendency caused by the high temperature, and in order to maintain the plates the proper distance apart I make use of distance members, shown as metal tubes be surrounding the burner-tubes and abutting at their ends against the top and bottom plates between the end flanges 3, said tubes 52, b3, and b being made of metal having the same rate of expansion. By this construction the burners are not only cheaply and conveniently constructed, but the top and bottom plates a a2 of the casing are held from warping or buckling.

The distance members 56 are perforated at 6 opposite the inlets b, as shown in Fig. 3, and it will also be seen that the inner or airsupplying tubes b2 of the burners form conduits or passages extended through but not communicating at all with the distributingchamber D, said inner tubes serving as inlets to supply air to the burner-openings and chamber C to support combustion and also to furnish any additional air necessary for the mixture of fuel-vapor and air delivered to the burner-openings from the distributingchamber D.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the burner-flame is ring-like or annular and that the pure air is delivered at the interior of the ame uniformly at all points, resulting in a very hot clear flame, the hydrocarbon vapor being entirely consumed within the chamber C.

By varying the position of the upper ends of the tubes b2 b3 the ame may be fiared or contracted, slight eleva-tion of the inner tube or wall flaring the flame and depression below the outer tube or wall contracting' it.

I have herein shown the lower ends of the conduits or air-supplying tubes b2 as opening into an air-chamber A below and attached to the distributing-chamber, the bottom a5 of the air-chamber having suitable air-inlets a, Fig. 3, adapted to be more or less closed by means of a shutter al, shown as pivotcd to the bottom of the chamber at a and provided with an actuating-handle a, Fig. 2. The pure external air enters the chamber through the inlets el and passes to the various conduits or inner walls b2. and by means of the shutter al the air-supply delivered through such conduits can be regulated readily and with a great degree of accuracy.

The heat generated in the combustion-chamber is very intense when the apparatus is in full operation, and to protect the side walls a I use a lining' of some refractory material, such as asbestos paper or cloth 44, Figs. 2 and 3, and in addition thereto I provide further protection by a series of pipe-bends P, curved to conform closely to the curvature of the side wall a and connected at their ends with manifolds or headers P P2, Fig. 2, the former communicating by a pipe p with the source of feed-water supply, while the latter connects by pipe p2 with the boiler. As the incoming feed-water circulates through the bendsP it is heated and so passes to the boiler, while the interposition of this body of water between the burners and the wall of the combustion-chamber acts as a protection for the latter against the fierce heat.

Two concentric pipes CX c are extended into the combustion-chamber, the larger one being closed at its inner end and rigidly secured at its outer end only to the wall ofthe combustion-chamber and constituting the vaporizer to receive and vaporize the hydrocarbon or other liquid fuel used. orizer at one end only I provide for its expansion and contraction under variations of temperature, thereby avoiding derangement or breakage of parts or their distortion.

An external casting C has a threaded portion c, Fig. 3, screwed onto the projecting outer end of the vaporizer` leaving a chamber c2 in the casting at the open end of and communicating directly with the vaporizer, the inner tube or fuel-supply inlet c for the vaporizer passing through said chamber and being shown as screwed into the casting in communication with a duct or passage c3, which is connected with the source of fuel-supply by a pipe 0*. The liquid fuel thus enters the inlettube c and is delivered therefrom at the inner end of the Vaporizer CX, so that it is subjected to high temperature at the instant it enters the vaporizer and the fuel is largely or altogether vaporized before it leaves the inlet c.

Beneath the vaporizer and at each side thereof for the greater part of its length, as herein shown, the plate a', forming the bottom of the 'combustion-chamber, is provided with numerous small holes or jet-openings am, Figs. 2 and 3, of a pilot-torch herein comprising a subchamber or heater H, formed in the distributing-chamber and completely shut off therefrom, the bottom L of the heater being upwardly inclined from near the side wall of the chamber D to the plate af at the inner end of the perforated portion. rIhe side walls L of the heater are riveted or otherwise rigidly secured at their upper edges to the plate c',

By securing the vapi IOO IIO

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as at LX, Fig. Q, so that when a combustible gas or vapor is admitted to the pilot-torch heater H it will escape through the jet-opeuings uw, aud when a lighted match or torch is applied thereto the vapor will ignite and the heat from the jets will raise the temperature of the vaporizer CX. An air-inlet tube 71,3, Fig. 3, enters the chamber through the side wall of the distributiiig-chamber D, as herein shown, and a fuel-vapor injector K is located at the outer end of and projects into the said 'inlet in usual manner, the torch-heater being thus supplied with air and fuel-vapor or hydrocarbon gas to feed the jets am.

Referring' to Figs. l and 4, the casting C has a depending foot C2, provided with a crooked passage ci', communicating with a nozzle on the casting forming the injector K, a short duct c, Fig. connecting the passage o5 with the chamber c2 and the vaporizer CX. Suitable plugs 8 and 9 tightly close the ends of the crooked or bent passage c5, formed in the casting by drilling in this instance of my invention, and it will be seen that the fuelvapor can pass at all times to the nozzle or injector K for the torch-heater, controlled. by a suitable injectorwalve Il', the threaded stem of which passes through a stuffing box or gland JX and is provided with a handle or nut 7:/ at its outer end.

r llhe distributing-chainber D is preferably provided with two air-inlets or mixing-tubes D2, one at each side of the torch-heater H, the inner ends of said inlets being beveled, as at (Z, Fig. 2, on their outer sides in order to provide an extended exit-opening' for the mixed .air and fuel-vapor as the mixture enters the distributingchamber, each air-inlet being provided with a cooperating injector I, by which a jet of gas is injected directly into the tube D2 and under pressure due to the vaporizing of the fuel.

At one side of its center the casting C is provided with a lateral chambered extension C, having a depending' leg c7, provided with a lateral branch cs, connected with or forming a part of the foot C2 and projecting beyond it at c, as shown in Fig. 4L.

The injectors I are constructed substantially as the injector K and are formed b v nozzles extended inward from the branch o8 and its extension c, said nozzles communicating with passages c18 cw, Fig. 4, formed by drilling' the branch and its extension from the outervends, a plug 18 closing the outer end of the passage e, An upright passage on in the leg' c7 connects the passages c1S c1 with the chamber ci, the latter having' at its inner end a circu lar block cl3, forming a valve-seat c for a valve o, a duct c leading to the opening of the valve-seat from the ehambered portion c2 of the casting C, as best shown in Fig. 5.

lt sometimes happens that by reason of some slight obstruction the valve fu will not firmly seat; but such obstruction can generally be removed by a relatively rotative movement of the valve and seat without removing either, and herein l have constructed this part of the apparatus whereby such relative rotative movement can be effected independently of the valve-operating means.

The circular valveseat block om is held in place by a thimble or sleeve 20, Fig. 5, and the periphery of said block is toothed, as at 21, to be engaged by a pinion 22 on a shaft 23, mounted in a hollow enlargement c25 of the casting C. The shaft passes through a stuffing-box 2li and is provided with a handle 25, by which it may be rotated, and by turning this handle the pinion Q2 will rotate the block el relatively to the valve to clear the parts of a slight obstruction.

Each injector l is provided with a needle or similar valve of usual construction, the stems t' being shown in section in Fig. 4L and passing through stuliing-boxes i, Figs. il and 2, with thumb-nuts or handles if, by which the valves are operated.

A pan lf, provided with suitable librous material f, Fig. 4, is connected by boltsf/ to nipples ci 0 on the branch cs and its extension, sleevesf i surrounding the bolts betweiin the nipples and the bottom of the pan.

Vhen the apparatus is to be started, the parts being cold, alcohol or some of the liquid fuel is poured into the pau and lighted, the valves of the injectors l being closed, and the heat soon raises the temperature of the casting C and adjacent parts su'fiiciently to vaporize such liquid fuel as is contained therein, and this vapor passing' into the torch-heater H can be ignited by a match or torch in the combustion-chamber, and very quickly the vaporizer (lx will be in operative condition. For convenience I have provided the extension c with a teat c3, controlled. by a valve ci, Fig. 4, so that liquid fuel can be drawn therefrom into the pan F when it is desired to start the apparatus. After it has been once started and the vaporizer initially heated by the flame from the pilot-torch, as described, the fuel vaporized therein passes from the vaporizer through duct om and chamber el" to the passage c17 and thence to the injectors I I, and when the valv ofthe latter are opened the vapor rushes into the inlets Di, drawing in air and mixing therewith to supply the chamber D in the burner-casing with the cornbustible mixture for the bumier-openings, and this combustible mixture issuing from the said burner-openings will immediately ignite from the flame of the pilot-torch, the appa ratus continuing to so operate as long as fuel is supplied to the vaporizer. When the operation of the apparatus is to be stopped teniporarily, the supply to the injectors I is shut otl and the main burner ceases to act; but as the torch-heater injector li still remains in unobstructed connection with the vaporizer, as has been described, the said torch-heater '.lIO

H will continue to operate, keeping the combustion-chamber C and the boiler heated to maintain the steam and vaporizing the fuel as it is admitted to the vaporizer. Thereafter as soon as the injectors I are opened the 'burners will light automatically from the heater-jets am.

By means of a burner embodying my invention I am enabled to raise steam very rapidly in the boiler of a steam-generator, for, provided the `heater is in operation, there will be enough vaporized fuel in the vaporizer to mix at once with the requisite air at the inlets D2 as soon as the injectors are opened, the combustible mixture passing at once to the distributingchamber and burner-openings. The air-inlets .D2 and injectors I 'are so proportioned that the proper quantity of air will enter to mix with the vaporized fuel and be distributed to the burner-openings from the chamber D, and as the air delivered at the burner-openings is regulated at will it is unnecessary to provide adjusting means for the inlets D2. I have provided convenient means to automatically regulate the supply of liquid fuel by or through variation in boiler-pressure, so that when said pressure passesl beyond or falls below a certain point the fuelsupply will be reduced or increased, respectively.

Referring particularly to Fig. il, a case M has an attached cap M', provided with a hol low boss m, through which the stem o of the valve o is extended, the end of the boss being screwed into the part C3 of the casting C and opening into the chamber 08 thereof. A flexible diaphragm M is securely held between the case M of the regulator and its cap, and the valve-stem o has a head o2 attached thereto and resting against one side of the diaphragm, a cylinder-head m on the opposite side of the diaphragm having a threaded stud m2, which is screwed tightly into the head o2, passing through the diaphragm and making a steamtight connection between the valve-stem and cylinder-head 777/. rlhe cylinder-head is interiorly threaded at m3 to receive the end of a cylinder m4, loosely held in the regulator-case M, the closed outer end m5 of said cylinder having loosely extended through it a rod 7a, having at its inner end a head m7 and threaded at its outer end at m8 to engage a threaded hole in the end of the case, a check-nut m on the rod preventing accidental movement thereof in the case. A strong spring S surrounds said rod within the cylinder mi, bearing at its opposite ends on the head m7 of the rod and the end m5 of the cylinder and tending to move the latter to the left, Fig. 4, to thereby hold the valve o oif its seat. A pipe m10, communicating with the steam-space of the boiler, leads to and opens into the case M on the same side of .the diaphragm as the spring and cylinder, so that the boiler-pressure acts on the diaphragm in opposition to the action of the spring. By moving the rod m in or out of the case M the tension of the spring is variedv to adjust it to the desired degree of boilerpressure. Then such pressure passes beyond that point, the tension of the spring is overcome and the valve u is more or less closed to decrease the supply of fuel-vapor to the injectors I, thus decreasing the heating action of the burner as a whole. lVhen the boilerpressure falls below the desired point, the spring operates to open the valve and admit more fuel to the injectors to thereby increase the heating effect of the burner. lVhether the said valve be opened or closed, however, the passage of fuel to the heater H is not interfered with in the least, so that the supply of fuel may be cut off entirely from the burnerinjectors, and the heater will remain operative. My invention marks an important advance in the art, largely because the vaporizer is located in the combustion-chamber above the main burner, so that the greater the iiame therein with the resultant heating effect, calling for an increased supply of fuel, the hotter will the vaporizer become to supply the required amount of vapor, the vaporizer thus responding always to the burnelgand furthermore, because the initial heating and lighting torch is itself supplied from the vaporizer so located and responsive, so that there is little or no danger of the draft of vapor for the main burner robbing the torch, the latter as the work upon the burner increases having the benefit of the increased vaporization due to the increased heating effect in the combustion chamber. features of the invention insure its successful operation under the most trying conditions.

It is to be observed that the auxiliary burner is so located relatively to the main-burner vaporiZer that the latter is in the direct path of its heat, thus giving the auxiliary burner a maximum of effectiveness in proportion to its capacity. Its connections to the fuel-supply conduit also are such that the reduction of fuel-supply to the main burner by the automatic regulator, even if carried to the point of total extinction of the main-burner iame, nevertheless permit the maintenance of a heating effect not less than a predetermined minimum in the main-burner vaporiZer, so that the latter remains in a condition of readiness to respond quickly to fresh demands or increased demands upon the main burner, irrespective of the connections which supply the auxiliary burner, whether leading from the main vaporizer, as in the illustrated embodiment of my invention,or otherwise, and apart from other considerations these two described features lend a delicate balance to the regulation of the system, for although the total effective heat of the combustion-chamber is the combined heat both of the auxiliary burner These with other apparent` TOO IIO

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and the main burner the former by reason of its effective position may be made of minimum capacity, thereby contributing the minimum proportion and the smallest possible percentage to the eiiective heat ot' the chamber. This causes the variations in the main-burner supply resulting from the automatic regulation to be followed by variations in the effective heat holding the closest possible correspondence to the variations in the main supply. All this notwithstanding that any reduction in the main-burner supply however far it may be carried so long as the system remains in operation cannot reduce the vaporizing heat ot' the main-burner vaporizer below that limit Which is necessary to malte it quickly responsive to fresh demands.

I have herein shown a plurality oi fuel-injectors for the distributing-chamber, and should one of said injectors fail to work properly from any accidental cause the miXtureoi' air and gas in said distributing-chamber would tend to escape at the point adjacent the inoperative injector and would. be lost, and to prevent such occurrence I separate the distributing-chamberI in the casing into as many compartments as there are injectors, in the present case by means of a partition-wall 75, (see dotted lines and part full lines, Fig. 2,) one of the injectors I communicating with each compartment into which the distributingchamber is thus divided, said partition-wall 75 being attached to the top and bottom plates a o2. Should one of the injectors fail to operate, it will be obvious that the gas entering the distributing-chamber from the other injector cannot pass into the compartment normally supplied by the temporarily inoperative injector, so that there is no possibility of the gas blowing back and escaping'.

Referrring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the burner-openings are very numerous, and some of them approach very closely the inlets for the distributing-chamber, while others are at a considerable distance therefrom. io to l provide 'for uniform action oi the various burner-openings lv provide those farthest irom the inlets with ports oi greater area communieating with the distributing-chamber than i'or those burners which are nearer the gas and air inlets.

Referring to Fig. 3, the extreme left-hand burner device shown in section may be provided with two inlet-ports while the next burner device to the right will have an additional port Zf", (shown in dotted lines,) and the next two may be provided cach with four ports, two being shown in section and one el" the other two ports being indicated in dotted lines, as at 5", its fellow port being arranged opposite thereto and not shown in the vertical sectional view.

Obviously instead of varying the number of ports for the difierently-positioned burner devices the number of ports might be the invention is particularly adapted for steam' generators or motors 'lor horseless vehicles, yacht-engines, and the like, which are liable to more or less frequent stoppages,on account ot' its great economy, eiiiciency, and convenience ol operation, durability, and simplicity, together with its great capacity Jfor quickly attaining' its maximum heating' eifect.

l have herein shown two injectors coperating with the distributing-chamber of the burner; but my invention is not restricted thereto, as one .injector or a greater number than two may be employed, as desired and according to circumstances.

li have herein shown one practical embodiment of my invention without, however, attempting' to illustrate or describe various changes or rearrangements which may be made without departing' from the spirit and scope of my invention, and accordingly my said invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. lhe within-described hydrocarbon-burner comprising top and bottom plates normally separated by intervening spacers and held tog'ether by tubular members passing through said plates and headed over at the cuter face of each, air-supplying tubes arranged within said tubular members and in contact therewith at the bottoms of the latter but separated therefrom at the upper ends oi the latter, said tubular members being constructed to furnish conn'mmication from the chamber between said plates to the resultingI annular space between said tubular members and said air-supplying tubes.

2. The within-describi-ul hydrocarbon-burner conngnising a closed distri buting-chamber having a continuous top plate, a comlmstion-chamber elosedat its sides and its bottom formed by the top plate of the distrilimting-chamber, air-conduits extended through the bottom of the distrilmtingchamber and the top plate thereof to supply external air to the combustion-chamber, means to regulate the supply ol air to said conduits, tubular conduit members secured to the top and bottom plates and having their upper ends comm unieating with the combustion-chamber to provide slit-like burner-openings and having inlets within the distributiiig-chamber, said distributing-chamber also having means to supply the same with a mixture of air and fuel vapor.

3. In a hydrocarbon-burner, a combustionchamber, burners therein, a `chamber to contain a mixture ot' air and :fuel-vapor, commu- IOC) IIO

nicating with said burners, a fuel-vapor inlet for said mixing-chamber, a tubular air-inlet open at its outer end and extended into the mixing-chamber around the fuel-vapor inlet, the open inner end oil said air-inlet being beveled to enlarge the opening thereof.

4. In a hydrocarbon-burner, superposed air, distributing and combustion chambers, and burners comprising concentric inner and outer walls in close contact at their lower ends and separated at their upper ends to leave an annular space communicating with the distributing-chamber and at its top with the combustion-chamber, the said inner walls of the burners extending directly from the combustion to the air chamber, to provide air-inlets opening into the combustion-chamber within the several burner-openings.

5. In ahydrocarbon-burner,superposed air, distributing and combustion chambers, tubular conduits comprising inner and outer walls separated at their upper ends to leave an annular space communicating with the distributing-chamber and opening into the combustion-chamber to form burner-openings, the said inner walls of the conduits extending directly from the combustion to the air chamber, to provide air-inlets opening into the combustion-chamber within the several burneropenings, and distance members interposed between the top and bottom of the distributing-chamber, said distance members coperating with the outer walls ot' the conduits to prevent warping of the said chamber top and bottom.

6. A hydrocarbon-burner provided with an inclosed distributing-chamber having top and bottom plates, the top plate having a plurality7 of burner devices, each ot' which is formed by a plurality of concentric tubes having an annular space between their upper portions, the outer tube having a side admission-opening therein ailording communication between said annular space and said distributing-chamber.

7. In a hydrocarbon-burner, a combustionchamber, burners therein, a distributing-chamber communicating with the burners to deliver Jfuel-vapor thereto, means including' a valve and its seat to control the passage of fuel-vapor to said distributing-chamber, and independent means to eifect relative rotative movement of the valve and seat, to clear the same of an obstruction.

8. A liquid-fuel burner, a valve and its seat to control the passage of fuel to the burner, means to open and close the valve, and independent means to eifect relative rotative movement of the valve and seat to clear the same of an obstruction.

9. In a steam-generating apparatus, a boiler, a liquid-fuel burner to heat the same, a controlling-valve and its seat, means to automatically open and close the valve and govern the passage ot the fuel to the burner in accordance with the boiler pressure, and independent means to effect relative rotative movement of the valve and seat to clear the same of an obstruction.

10. In a steam-generator, a burner-casing comprising a side wall and top and bottom plates each having a series of circular openings therein, a plurality of tubes arranged in concentric pairs separated at their upper ends to leave annular spaces which form burneropenings, the outer tube of each pair being rigidly secured at its ends to the top and bottom plates respectively, and an inlet in the outer tube communicating' with the annular space between the tubes or' tle pair.

11. In a steam-generator, a burner-casing comprising a side wall and top and bottom plates each having a series oi' circular openings therein, a plurality of tubular conduits each having an annular recess extended thereinto from its upper end, to form a burneropening, each conduit being rigidly secured at its lower end to the bottom plate and having the outer wall of' the annular recess secured to the top plate, and an inlet from the exterior of the conduit to the recess.

l2. In a steam-generator, a burner-casing comprising a side wall and top and bottom plates each having a series of circular openings therein, a plurality of tubular conduits between the top and bottom plates of the casing, attached to and supported by each, each conduit having' therein an annular passage having an inlet within the casing, the upper end ot' each passage forming an annular outlet at the Lipper end of each conduit.

13. A hydrocarbon-burner provided with an inclosed distributing-chamber having top and bottom plates, the top plate having' a plurality ot' burner devices, each of which is formed byaplurality of concentric tubes having an annular space between their upper portions, the outer tube having a side admissionopening therein affording communication between said annular space and said distributing-chamber, and the inner tube opening into the space beneath said bottom plate.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a boiler of amain burner arranged beneath and to heat the same, the bottom or' said boiler and the top of said burner constituting the top and bottom respectively ot a combustion-chamber between said burner and boiler, a fuel-supply conduit for said main burner, said conduit including a vaporiZer arranged in said combustion-chamber so as to be heated with said boiler by said main burner, whereby the latter aids in vaporizing its own fuel, an initial, heating and lighting torch arranged to initially heat said vaporizer and boiler and to light said main burner, said torch being itselt` supplied from said vaporizer, and means responsive to variations in boiler conditions to vary the supply from said vaporizer to said main burner without affecting the supply rom said vaporizer to said torch.

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15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a suitable inclosing wall containing a combustion-chamber, a main burner constituting the bottom of said chamber, a fuel su pply conduit ior said main burner, said conduit including a vaporizer arranged in said combustion-chamber to respond to the heating eiect of said main burner, one or more vapor-fuel jet devices for said main burner, said jet device or devices being supplied from said vaporizer, a mixing-tube projecting through the side wall forming said combustion-chamber and through which said Iiet device or devices project vapor-fuel into and to supply said main burner, means positively to control the iioiv or' fuel through each of said jet devices, an independent automatic regulator controlling the supply to said jet device or devices, an initial, heating and lighting torch for said vaporizer and supplied with fuel from said fuel-supply conduit `i'ree from the control oi" said automatic regulator, said torch comprising a jet device externally located relative to said combuStien-chamber, positive controlling' means for said torch-jet device, and a tube arranged in front of the latter and through which its jet of fuel-vapor is projected within said inclosing Wall to act upon said vaporizer.

16. In an apparatus ot the class described, a burner-plate provided with a series of mainburner openings, a gas-distributing chamber beneath said burner-plate and in communication with said openings, a fuel-supply conduit for said chamber, said conduit including a vaporizer located above said burner plate, said plate being also provided Wi th a series et' auxiliary-burner openings beneath said vaporizer, said openings communicating with a second gas-distributing chamber.

17. ln an apparatus of the class described, a burner-plate provided with a series oiE mainburner openings, a gas-distributing chamber beneath said plate and in communication with said openings, said plate being provided With a series of auxiliary-burner openings .for lighting said main burner, and a gas-distributing chamber in communication with said second series of burner-openings, said main chamber and second chamber receiving a separately controlled fuel-supply.

18. ln an apparatus of the class described, a main-burner plate provided With a series ot' main burner openings, a gas distributing chamber beneath said burner-plate and in cornmunication with said burner-openings, a fuelf supply conduit i'or said main burner, a vaporizer included in said conduit and above said main burner, a heating and lighting torch directly beneath said vaporizer for initially heating the vaporizer and lighting' said main burner, and a second gas-distributing chamber for said heating and lighting torch.

19. In an apparatus of the class described responsive to changes in boiler conditions For supplying a variable amount ol'l tuel to said burner, a vaporizer ior vaporizmg the iuel supplied thereto, said vaporizer being subject to the action of the heat Yfrom said burner to r cause the same to respond to the varying burner demands, and an auxiliary bunner associated with said combustion-chamber to cause initial ignition and reignition ol said main burner, said vaporizer being located di rectly within the normal path oi the auxiliaryburner ilamc.

Q0. .ln an apparatus of the class described the combination with a boiler provided with a substantially inclosed combustion-chambcr beneath the same or' a main burner within said chamber, a vaporizer immediately above said main burner and subject to the direct action of the products ot' combustion therefrom to supply vapor-ized fuel thereto, means responsive to boiler condition for controlling said main burner, an auxiliary burner also within said 'combustion-chamber and directly adjacent to said vaporizcr to impart directly thereto the auxiliary-burner heat, said auxiliary burner having a separate supply-conduit from said main burner, whereby it is caused to inipart to said vaporizer a vaporizing el'lect, irrespective ot' .restrictions oiE said lnain burner through the action of said controlling means, and to initially ignite and reignite said main burner.

21. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a steam-generator, a main burner therefor, a substantially inclosed com bustion-chainbcr Alor said burner beneath said generator, a fuel-supply conduit, a Vaporizing-retort in said combustiori-chamber, and connected with said conduit, l'er vaporizing fuel supplied to said main burner, automatic regulating means for increasing or decreasingI the heat of said combustion-chamber by varying the fuebsupply to said burner, and an auxiliary burner for ignition and reignition oi' said main burner and also connected to said fuel-supply conduit and arranged adjacent said vaporizer to transmit its heat directly thereto, the connections between said 'fuelsupply conduit and said auxiliary burner permitting the latter to maintain the heating ol said vaporizer irrespective oi the restriction oi' said main burner by said. regulating means.

22. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a steam-generator, of a main burner, a substantially inclosed combustion-chamber for the same beneath said gen erator, a fuel-supply conduit for said burner, a vaporizer in said combustion-chamber and included in said conduit, an auxiliary burner associated with said combustion chamber,

IOO

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said vaporizer being located within the direct to this specification in the presence of two subpath oi the auxiliary-burner flame, and means scribing` Witnesses.

for regulating` the heat of said combustion- Y, t y chamber by Varying' the fuel supplied to said GEORGE E' XVHIINEY' 5 main burner while insuring still the heating Writnesses:

oi said Vaporizer by said auxiliary burner. GEORGE B. UPHAM,

ln testimony Whereot I have signed my naine FREDERICK L. EMERY.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No; 777,578, granted December 13, 1904, upon the application of George E. Whitney, of Boston, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Hydrocarbon-Burners,- errors appear in the printed specilication requiring correction, as follows: On page 4, line 119, a period should be substituted for the comma after the word burner, and the following Word irrespective should cornrnence with a capital I, in line 124 a comma should be inserted after the Word considerations, and in line 126 a period should be substituted for the comuna after the Word system, and the following Word for should commence with a capital F. On page 5 commas should be inserted after the Words burner and former in line 1, after the word position in line 2, after the Word supply in line 12, after the Word carried in line 13, and after the Wordoperation` in line 141, and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oilice.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of January, A. D., 1905.

[SEAL] 'l F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

lCorrections in Letters Patent No. 777,578. 

